Virginia Beach, Va. - A Marine in Virginia Beach celebrated Veterans Day with a big turkey dinner.
The staff sergeant will be deployed before Thanksgiving.
It was all one big surprise.
Turkey, ham, green bean casserole.
If you went to Jessika Palmer's house last night, you would probably be a little confused.
Her husband, Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Anthony Palmer is deploying in a few days.
It's his seventh deployment in the past ten years -- and yet another one spending the holidays overseas.
"What he`s going to miss out on is a lot of family, a lot of firsts again for this little guy, so all of the holidays that are special to a lot of families."
This little guy is their 6-month-old son, Gunner -- who is all decked out for his first Thanksgiving, even if it is a few weeks early.
Little did SSGT Palmer know -- he was in for a surprise!
"He just doesn`t like the attention to be on him, so it will be interesting to see his reaction."
A bit overwhelmed by the attention -- but grateful for all the love.
"As most military families we all suffer in silence and try to stay humble and do our job and then get 'em when we can get them."
As the entire family sat down to eat a turkey dinner on Veterans Day, they gave thanks for one more night spent together.
"They don`t get to see their kids grow up like other families, and it`s hard, but at the same time I want him to know that we`re behind him 100 percent."
